Title: Yggdrasil

Author: YukariYoukai

Rating: T… for TEEN!

Pairing: Bathier/Vaan

Summary: In exchange for a Galbana Lily, Vaan is given the key to the universe. [AU

Chapter: 5/? Like a Viera, (cute for the very first time.

Notes: Fucking abstract flashbacks.

Fran is not one for idle thought. Time is precious, even to Viera, especially to Viera, because they know best of all nothing is Endless. No matter how long they train, no matter how well they heed the Green Word, their forest ---they­ themselves--- will fall.

Humes will be at the center, carnage and greed, tearing at their weakened boughs, ripping at their leafy canopy. It came as quite a surprise when the wood commanded they help a merchant hume, lost, but shining with some inner light long dimmed in the hearts of men. The hume and the Viera came to respect each other, trade and befriend. That is how, twenty years later, Fran met Balthier.

Fran, still only two feet or so, (because Viera measure early years by height, not time) was slightly amused at the speedy rate humes grow. Balthier was barely a head past her height, but looked as if he should have been a handspan taller. The merchant-hume had a son; the merchant hume wanted to continue to foster good will with the Viera after death.

(Death. Humes who grow so quickly, die just as quickly, and so they devise ways to live on through death. Fran remembers death: painted on the faces of warriors who must always be prepared, Viera or no.)

She didn't coddle him, or appeal to his ego like other girls her age did. Or at least, what Balthier guessed was her age. She didn't giggle or wear long fluffy dresses or keep Ozmone Hares as pets. Fran was the antithesis of "cute", unless one counted that thing she did with her nose. And the fact that she was just on this side of pudgy, like most youngsters.

Eventually, when Balthier discovered (gratefully) that she wasn't like Anne-Marie or any other young Archadian nobility, the pair got along just fine. Which is to say, she snapped at him and he placated her. In Fran's world, she needed to be violent to protect herself. In Balthier's, evasion was the best offense. Together, they were scary-balanced.

---

Vaan cursed as he sneezed. Stupid Balthier and his stupid --- Achoo!

Said stupid fat head pranced into his room with a cup of more hot chocolate to "tame the beast."

"Go screw yourself," Vaan muttered once the mug was securely in his grasp.

Balthier sighed, and ignored the comment. "I have space enough to accommodate you, happily." Vaan busied himself with the hot chocolate in lieu of a reply. "Why don't you go see if they are to your liking?"

"Is there a hammock?"

"A what?"

"A ham--- the thing you use to sleep on." Vaan made a semicircle that opened upward with his index fingers. "Looks like this, hangs from two ropes? Heard of it?"

Balthier used an old politician's tactic: sublimation. Instead of wrinkling his nose in disgust, he smiled and lifted his eyebrows in interest. "No, never," he answered innocently, keying Vaan in to none of his thoughts on "ham-mocks." The blonde sighed.

"Figures," he mumbled. "Look," he said to Balthier. "I don't mind; I just haven't slept on one of these before." He bounced lightly, making the bloodwool shift.

"Indeed." Vaan ignored the obvious snub on his poverty with another gulp of his hot chocolate. This stuff is really good!

"Just don't get offended if I sleep on the floor instead."

"Why, Vaan, do you think I would spy on you while you slept?" Vaan glared, prepared to say something sharp, but Balthier cut in. "I assure you, on my honor, that I am thrice the gentleman with guests in my… quarters."

"Whatever. I'm just warning you in advance." Vaan had lived in many places in the past two years, and he had learned the cardinal rule of bunking up: different people have different sensitivities. He wasn't trying to be dramatic or anything; Vaan was just looking out for Balthier's sensitivities, like a decent person. Totally wasted on the fact that Balthier was the most indecent person he had ever had the misfortune of meeting, and that said a lot.

Balthier's polite smile in response bothered Vaan for the rest of the night.

---

Smoke and shadow simmered. The Keeper had set up a barrier. There would have to be someone sent.

---

Vaan rose before dawn, again, and blearily faced the world. He crawled from under the bed --- which was way too soft for his taste --- , and stumbled to the wash basin near the curtained window. The space where the influx of air would usually awake him was filled with a transparent hardness. He pressed his hand cautiously against it --- chill to the touch. It figured the Archadian Arse would have something stupid like this. What normal person didn't like warm sunshine? Although Vaan could see it concievably being a boon in the rain.

What dazed early morning pondering was this?!

He shook his head viciously, lightly dousing the window with water droplets from his hair. No matter how comfortable he was during sleep, waking up with wits that addled was dangerous. And embarrassing.

What now? He had stayed the night at the Archadian's --- and hopefully he didn't catch cold from that impromptu dip into ice water --- but he couldn't concievably stay. The moogles had to be worried about him.and he still had to find his necklace.

With that settled, Vaan prepared himself for another day of searching. Balthier had to have a weapon somewhere in this overdressed hovel. He eased open the door to his room, and, spying no one, continued on to Balthier's room. He held his breath as he passed the open door, sprinting into the sitting room. It was full of… books? Books upon books with that damned red trim all over the room, offset by the golden hue of the walls. He took in the whole room, noticing it had a half wall dividing it from the kitchen. Come to think of it, he was hungry…

---

Balthier groggily rolled out of bed, fully intent on starting his day with a morning Bhujerba, finishing some more of the endless work on his desk, drinking some more, and stringently avoiding Vaan. He walked into his kitchen and made a sound he Rather Wished He Didn't.

"Bwha?"

Vaan looked up from his mountain of food, corners of his mouth lightly smeared with grease. "Mmmfh."

"Why…" Balthier gulped down the rest as he came to a sudden realization. As casually as he could, he opened his liquor cabinet (a bit surprised to find it the same as he left it) and opened a bottle without bothering to find a glass. And so the morning passed, with Balthier irresponsibly drinking and Vaan eating him out of hovel and home. And then, Balthier, with his inhibitions all uninhibited, offers Vaan some too. Because if he is to go down, he won't stop at just the first flight of stairs.

"I have a high metabolism!" Vaan exclaims, tipsy but not enough to slur.

"Izat so?"

The blonde nodded emphatically. "That's why I live with the moogles. They always have food."

Balthier limply motioned to his house. "We 'aven't gosh anee. " He tipped his head back for another drink, unaware of how Vaan's clouded eyes latched on his neck.

"I know!"

"I donna."

"Let's go visit the moogles!"

In the spirit of the occasion, the poor sod stumbled to his feet, ready to embark on a whole new adventure. "Lesh!"

CHAPTER FIVE END.

Ahaha. What a wonder the last few months have been!